The United States is looking for an "off-ramp" to avoid prosecuting Julian Assange says his brother, Gabriel Shipton, after US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy suggested a plea deal could be possible.
Speaking to Sky News Australia, Assange’s brother Shipton said the news showed the US was seeking to end it’s “extremely controversial” prosecution.
“This indication from the Ambassador Caroline Kennedy shows that the US administration is looking for an off-ramp,” Mr Shipton said.
"They’ve been pursuing Julian for the past 13 years for publishing evidence of corruption, for publishing evidence of war crimes and they’re now deciding that there is a solution available.
“This is a sign that they don’t want this playing out in American courts, particularly during an election cycle, so the US administration is really looking for an off-ramp here for what is an extremely, extremely controversial press freedom prosecution.”
Asked what the outcome of a potential deal could be, Mr Shipton suggested he would expect Assange to be freed completely upon his return to Australia, saying he had already “paid” a significant price for his actions.
“Julian has been in prison for four year, he been detained one way or another for 13 years,” he said.
“This is the price that he has paid, this is the price that his family has paid as well.”
3·11 months ago